3 reasons Bayern’s mini-“crisis” is a blessing in disguise

With a press conference for the ages having taken place this morning and a return to Bundesliga action on the horizon, it is time to inject some optimism back into the conversation regarding the Rekordmeister. Regardless of who the manager is when Bayern Munich emerge on the other side of this dip in form, this blip on the radar will prove vital for the long-term health of the club.

The Bundesliga is getting better

Bayern have been in dire need of a title challenge since Jurgen Klopp stepped down at Borussia Dortmund. Die Roten’s dominance of the Bundesliga has been fun, but has allowed a degree of complacency and staleness to creep in. The Bavarian giants have pulled away with ease and finished off each campaign before the final match day, but they have also failed to feel the pressure necessary to prepare them for the latter stages of the Champions League. Bad luck with injuries and officiating has played a role, of course, but limited competition forces Bayern to make the jump to a much higher level of play when going against the likes of Real Madrid. High stakes league matches can only help Bayern reach the heights of 2013 and a more competitive league may even help to attract top players from the bright lights and dollar signs of the English Premier League.

The Bavarian brass can’t hide anymore

Bundesliga dominance results in stagnation in more ways than one. Since the 2013 treble-winning campaign the Bayern brass have papered over the cracks that have continued to grow. Inactivity and some poor decisions in the transfer market have left the defending Bundesliga champions with two ancient wingers, a lack of depth at full back and a manager with a squad that does not fit his tactical image. Unlike crises of the Carlo Ancelotti days, this mini- “crisis” has Bayern sitting in an increasingly uncomfortable position in the Bundesliga table and on the verge of an utterly disastrous campaign both at home an abroad. If this hasn’t gotten the attention of Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, nothing will. This may be exactly the wake up call needed for the hierarchy in Munich to address holes in the squad for dominance across competitions.

A strong core is in place

Although Uli and KHR are culpable for the current state of the club, they have done some things right. A reinvestment in the youth academy and the collection of a strong core of young talent give the defending-champions an enviable foundation from which to bounce back from this poor stretch and kick on for years to come. Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Sule, Serge Gnabry, Kingley Coman, Renato Sanches, Corentin Tolisso, Leon Goretzka and Alphonso Davies are both the present and the future for the Bavarian giants. Each of them is a rising star and starting to fulfill their limitless potential. Coupled with Thiago, James Rodriguez and David Alaba, who have a few more years of their prime left, Die Roten are not lacking talent. In all actuality, they are only a few pieces away from reasserting themselves as a world footballing power.

Niko Kovac will need to lean on these young stars to carry the burden of bringing Bayern out of this slump, but they are more than capable of doing so. The adversity they are experiencing now will only make them stronger.

Bayern Munich are still the biggest club in Germany and a few bad results isn’t changing that anytime soon.